Mailbox support and sign



Dec. 12, 1950 w. L. ENGHAUSER MAILBOX SUPPORT AND SIGN Filed Feb. 26, 1947 Patented Dec. 12, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to outdoor signs and is particularly directed to an improved sign structure which may be used, for example, as the means for identifying the owners of mail boxes or for other uses where the sign is subjected to outdoor exposure. The present inventor has conceived of the present invention primarily for use in connection with the identification of mail boxes but it is not intended to limit the invention to such use for its general construction adapts it for use in sign structures for other uses.

It is well known that in the rural districts it is the common practice for the house owner to place his name and rural route box number on the mail box. In fact, in recent years the government has required that all mail boxes be properly marked in such manner that they may be readily identified by the mail carrier as he approaches by vehicle. The problem of maintaining printed identification has been considerable since the printing tends to fade out due to constant exposure to the elements. Thus, frequent renewal of the printing is necessary and there has been a great deal of difficulty in enforcing the rule as to clear, visible marking. In addition, since the sign on the mail box is the rural householders means for directing persons to his or her home, it is highly desirable that the marking be clear and distinct and that it remain so for a long period of time.

Accordingly, it has been the principal objective of the present inventor to provide an identification sign for this use and any other related uses, which sign is ermanent in character, readily visible and of extremely pleasing appearance.

It has been a further object of the present inventor to provide a sign structure of this character which is of extremely simple construction and which is readily assembled to display the desired information.

It has been a still further object of the present inventor to provide a structure of this character which will have the additional utility of properly supporting the mail box relative to its standard and which will be so located relative to the box as to satisfy the requirements for quick and ready identification of the box and which when thus assembled provides, with the mail box and support, an extremely artistic and pleasing appearance.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a mail box standard showing the improved sign in position supporting the mail box on the standard.

Figure 2 is an end view of the upper portion of the standard illustrating the mail box and sign in end View.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken from Figure l detailing the sign.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an exploded view taken similar to Figure 4 but displaying the parts in disassembled position.

Referring to the drawings, which disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mail box stand is indicated generally at I9. It consists of a vertical standard I I supporting a horizontal hanger bar [2. The hanger bar I2 as well as the vertical standard is formed of pipe, the horizontal hanger bar being of less diameter than the standard and being disposed through a bore [3 in the standard. This hanger bar projects a greater amount at one side of the standard than it does at the other, the portion which extends the greatest amount constituting the support bar upon which the mail box is supported.

The assembly standard and hanger bar are maintained in assembled relationship by means of a plurality of braces or gusset bars 14, preferably four, these bars being formed of pipe of small diameter. As indicated, the bars are attached to the standard II and hanger [2 by means of bolts and nuts indicated at 55 or they may be secured by means of welding if desired. The gusset bars are curved in order to embellish the appearance of the stand.

The mail box 29 is hung upon the hanger bar l2 by means of pairs of brackets 2!, there being a air at each end of the box. The respective brackets are secured to the hanger l2 and the mail box by means of screws 22. The ends of the brackets are arcuate whereby they fit the contour of the hanger bar at one end and the mail box at the other, providing in this respect attachment flanges 23.

The respective pairs of supporting brackets are spaced apart as indicated in Figure 4 and the identification plate generally indicated at 24 is supported in position between the members of the pairs between the hanger bar and mail box. The plate 24 consists of three general parts, namely a colored filler plate 25 which is formed of plastic or similar material and which may be of a luminescent nature if desired, and two perforated aluminum plates 26 disposed at the respective opposite sides of the central plate. Also, horizontal frame strips 21 are provided along the respective upper and lower horizontal edges of the assembled sign.

As indicated in the exploded view the colored plate or filler element 25 is in the center. The entire assembly is held together and attached at its ends between the elements of the pairs of brackets 2i by means of the nuts and bolts generally indicated alt-28 which pass throughthe support strips or brackets 2! at the respective corners of the sign.

As set forth, the colored central plate 25 may be made of plastic or any similar material. It may have luminescent qualities so as to catch the light from passing cars at night and may provide an easily readable sign which will function in darkness as well as in daylight. The outside plates 26, which may be of aluminum-are perforated or out out to provide the letters 29 which will show up against the background of the central plate. Thus, when thesign is assembled, the only part of the colored filler visible is that which will show through the perforations invention has manysother uses apart from that in connection with a mail 'box'and in the broader sense. The in venticn is concerned with the structure of the sign per sefor-any-use. The-specific application of the sign to mail-box use provides additional features of invention which'are'setzout in the preamble and in the claims.

Having described my invention, :1 claim:

1. A'rural delivery mail box support assembly adapted to be secured to and depend 'from a' horizontallydisposed hanger bar comprising; 'a'pair of support brackets disposed in spaced parallel relationship; each bracket including'a pair of support strips having'attachment'flangesat the respective upper ends adapted to be secured tothe hanger bar and attachmentflanges'at the'respective lower ends configurated *to conform to r the contour of the top of a rural deliverymail boX and adaptedto be securedrtheretoya rectangular nameplate; the support strip of both pairs being spaced to embrace the respective ends of the name plate; said name plate being of laminated construction including a filler element disposed be- 5 tween two outer plate members, with the outer plate members being stenoiled to expose the filler element in name wording; frame strips at the upper and lower edges of the respective outer plates; said upport strips, frame strips and name plate having aligned bores itherethrough at the four corners of the name plate; and "fastening means extending through said bores and adapted "to draw said support strips toward each other *against said frame strips whereby the parts of the assembly are secured together as a unit.

2. Arural delivery mail box support assembly "adaptedto besecured to and depend from a horizontally disposed hanger bar comprising; a pair of support brackets disposed in spaced parallel relationship; each bracket including a pair of supportrstrips having attachment flanges 'at the respective 'upperends adapted "to be secured to the hanger bar :and attachmentr flange at the respective lower ends :configurated to conform to the-contour ofthe to -er .a rural-delivery mailbox and adapted to beE-securedi thereto; .-a rectangular nameplate; the support stripcof aboth pairs being spaced to embrace the respective ends of the nameplate; said nameplate being of laminated construction including =two.=stenci1ed iouter. plates and an intermediate plate; ssaid rectangular nameplate having holes .therethrough at each of the founcorners; said support-strips. having holes therethrough iii-alignment with theholes in the nameplate sand fastening means extending through each of the enema holes1for drawing the support strips of I each bracket toward each other whereby theipa'rts of thenameplate-are clamped together andLthe :support assembly is :secured together; as. a unit.

Belling Aug. 28, 1923 I-I-igdon,.-Jr May 27,1924

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